Choosing the right fertilizer for your garden is essential for the health of all plants in your yard and landscape. It will make a difference in how and when they grow, and can have a huge impact on your home’s curb appeal.
There are a variety of fertilizers, both synthetic and natural, available. Choose one based on your soil test results and plant needs.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for plants to thrive. It supports plant protein production, and is a major ingredient of chlorophyll, which makes plants green through photosynthesis.
A general fertilizer will provide nitrogen and other essential nutrients, but some plants need specific nutrients. Use specialty fertilizers to address each plant’s needs.
Fertilizer manufacturers produce chemical fertilizers by combining inorganic compounds like ammonia, nitrate and magnesium sulfate. Some are available in pre-measured packets that can be added to a watering can, and others come in pellets.
A soil test will tell you what nutrients your garden needs. The best way to ensure your soil receives the right nutrients is to amend it with natural compost and organic materials. This will slowly improve your soil’s pH over time and make it easier for your plants to absorb the nutrients they need.
Phosphorus
Choosing the right fertilizer for your garden can be a daunting task. There are so many different fertilizers out there that it can be confusing to know what your plants need and when.
Phosphorus (P) is an essential element that plants need to grow healthy. It helps them use nitrogen and potassium, two other nutrients found in fertilizers.
Plants need phosphorus to produce fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and it is also necessary for root growth and immunity. A good fertilizer should contain 2% nitrogen, 6% phosphorus, and 3% potassium.
There are many ways to get phosphorus into your diet, including eating foods like dairy products, red meat, poultry, legumes, and nuts. However, the phosphorus in these foods can be difficult to absorb because it is stored in a form called phytates. Food preparation techniques, such as cooking and sprouting, can help the body break down phytates so that phosphorus is more easily absorbed.
Potassium
You can find a lot of fertilizer choices on the shelves at your local home and garden center. But which one is right for your lawn, roses, vegetables or herbs?
Potassium is a critical nutrient for your plants. This nutrient is essential for photosynthesis, which turns sunlight into plant-useable energy.
It also helps keep the water in your plants’ leaves, improving their drought resistance.
Phosphorus is another key nutrient that your plants need. This nutrient aids the production of carbohydrates that help plants grow big and strong.
Soil organisms naturally release phosphorus in the soil. However, if your soil isn’t rich in organic matter, you can supplement it with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer.
Micronutrients
When choosing the right fertilizer for your garden, it’s important to consider what types of plants you have and their specific needs. For example, flowering vegetables require different fertilizers during different stages of growth than fruit or herb plants.
Fortunately, you can easily find organic and inorganic fertilizers at many nursery and garden supply stores. These plant-derived, natural or organic products often contain multiple nutrients at varying levels to help your plants get the most out of the soil and grow healthy.
Most synthetic fertilizers are time-released, meaning they release most of their nutrients within a few months, so they must be applied several times during the growing season. A slow-release fertilizer, on the other hand, is a water-soluble fertilizer that becomes available to plants as soon as you water them. This type of fertilizer is best for slow-growing plants, such as roses, that need a steady supply of nutrients during the growing season.